Senior IT Systems Engineer: Classified Infra & Automation

Shield; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 99,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Senior IT Systems Engineer to build and sustain classified infrastructure supporting engineering work across Windows, Linux, virtualization, and storage in air-gapped environments. The role balances hands-on engineering with documentation and accreditation activities, ensuring secure, auditable, and resilient systems for ISSMs and government assessors.

You will automate provisioning and hardening, implement DISA STIGs, manage patching and backups, and coordinate with

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, PKI, and enterprise endpoint management.
• Experience administering Red Hat Enterprise Linux or similar enterprise Linux systems.
• Experience with VMware, Nutanix, Hyper-V, or similar enterprise virtualization platforms. Nutanix AHV/Prism experience is preferred.
• Experience with enterprise storage, backup/recovery, and capacity planning.
• Experience with managed switching, VLANs, firewall administration, network segmentation, and troubleshooting network connectivity.
• Experience with PowerShell and infrastructure automation. Experience with Ansible, Python, Terraform, or similar tools is a plus.
• Experience applying DISA STIGs, using SCAP/STIG Viewer, supporting ACAS/Nessus findings, and working in RMF, NIST SP 800-53, JSIG, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience operating in disconnected, air-gapped, classified, or highly controlled environments.
• Ability to document work clearly, follow change control, validate results, and build systems that are easy for others to support.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-moving environment, shift between infrastructure disciplines when needed, and make sound technical decisions without requiring detailed direction.

Responsibilities

• Build, deploy, configure, and sustain Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, virtualization clusters, storage, and core services in standalone and air-gapped enclaves.
• Build and support VMware, Nutanix AHV/Prism, or similar virtualization environments; Nutanix experience preferred.
• Provide high-density compute for AI/ML, simulation, and engineering workloads; coordinate with facilities on rack space, power, and cooling.
• Administer Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, PKI, certificate services, privileged access, and RBAC for isolated forests.
• Create golden images and hardened baselines for servers, desktops, and VDI.
• Manage patching, updates, and security content in disconnected environments.
• Administer backup, recovery, and continuity; perform scheduled restore testing.
• Configure and troubleshoot switches, VLANs, firewall rules, network segmentation, and secure connections between facilities.

Skills

Windows Server

Active Directory

DNS

DHCP

PKI

Group Policy

Endpoint management

VMware

Nutanix AHV/Prism

Hyper-V

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Storage

Backup/Recovery

Network segmentation

PowerShell

Ansible

Python

Terraform

SCAP/STIG

RMF/NIST SP 800-53/JSIG

Education

Security+

CISSP

RHCSA/RHCE

VMware VCP

Nutanix NCA/NCP

Microsoft certifications

CCNA/CCNP

Tools

Elastic

Splunk

ACAS/Nessus

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Senior IT Systems Engineer to build and sustain classified infrastructure supporting engineering work across Windows, Linux, virtualization, and storage in air-gapped environments. The role balances hands-on engineering with documentation and accreditation activities, ensuring secure, auditable, and resilient systems for ISSMs and government assessors.

You will automate provisioning and hardening, implement DISA STIGs, manage patching and backups, and coordinate with